Remembering Central Illinois neighbors: Today's obituaries
Read through pantagraph.com obituaries.
HASSEL, Christine Patricia, 34, Boca Raton, Fla., 10 a.m. at St. Patrick Church of Merna, Bloomington.
MURRELL, Barbara J., 80, Gibson City, 3 p.m. at Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home, Saybrook.
WRIGHT, Clifford C., 80, Bloomington, 11 a.m. at East Lawn Funeral Home, Bloomington.
CLINTON — Charles Otis “Charlie” Belangee, 87, of Clinton, passed away at 5:45 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 19, 2019) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana.
His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the First Christian Church, 100 N. Jackson St., Clinton, with Ernie Harvey Jr. and J. Kent Hickerson officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Park Cemetery, Clinton, with military rites accorded. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the church. Memorials may be made to the Little Galilee Christian Camp, Clinton. Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home, Farmer City, is in charge of arrangements.
Charlie was born Nov. 7, 1931, in Springfield, a son of George Everett and Mayme Leota Staton Belangee. He married Anna Louise Simmons on June 8, 1952, in Hillsboro.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Ann Belangee, Clinton; daughter, Kay Ann (John) Werts, Clinton; three grandchildren, Marc (Connie) Werts, Mount Pulaski; Jessica (Jake) Sullivan, Smithville, Mo.; and Luke (Amber) Werts, Clinton; six great-grandchildren, Maggie Werts, Haylee Werts, Joy Werts, Jesse Werts, Jack Sullivan, and Norah Sullivan. Charlie was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Elvis Belangee, Elsie Solander and Virgil Belangee.
Charlie was a retired switchman for the central office of General Telephone Co., Clinton, from 1956-1994. He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean conflict. He was a member of the First Christian Church, Clinton, where he served as Bible school superintendent for 40 years. He was a member of the Crang-Bennett American Legion, Post 103, Clinton.
JAMES, Chauncey M., 75, Hudson, died Monday (Oct. 21, 2019). Kibler-Brady-Ruestman Memorial Home, Bloomington.
MENSSEN, Nancy Ann, 82, Hudson, died Monday (Oct. 21, 2019). Calvert & Metzler Memorial Home, Bloomington.
MILLS, Mary Lou, 91, Clinton, died Monday (Oct. 21, 2019). Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton.
PORTER, Ruth E., 54, El Paso, died Sunday (Oct. 20, 2019). Calvert-Johnson & Froelich Memorial Home, El Paso.
MINIER — Owen “Ozzie” Adams, 98, of Minier, slipped out of the arms of his loving family safely into the arms of Jesus Christ, his Savior, on Sunday (Oct. 20, 2019) at The Christian Village in Lincoln.
Owen, a man of simple means, lived the richest of lives. He was the fifth of six sons, born to Martin and Bertha Workman Adams, on Nov. 1, 1920, the day prior to the first election held after the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment. Because of Owen's birth, Bertha had to wait until the next election to exercise her right to vote for the first time.
He married Phyllis Chamberlin on July 22, 1944, in Atlanta. Later he married Marilyn McDonnald on Nov. 26, 2005. Both wives preceded him in death, as did his five brothers, Noble, Lynn, Verlin, Joseph, Trennouth; and one son-in-law, William Walters.
Surviving are three daughters, Sharon Walters, Morton; Connie (Robert) Zacharich, Defiance, Ohio; and Celest (Darrell) Staples, Minier; nine grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Owen was a U.S. Navy veteran, having served in World War II as a first class boatswain mate from Aug. 5, 1942 through Dec. 12, 1945. He served in both the European African Middle Eastern Campaign and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign, having participated in Operation Husky (Sicilian invasion), Operation Overlord (Normandy invasion), and the latter part of Operation Iceberg (Okinawan invasion). During the Normandy invasion, his battleship (the USS Glennon, a DD-620) sunk after hitting a mine, only to be followed by the escort ship that rescued the crew hitting a mine and sinking. Owen received the World War II Victory Medal (with two Battle Stars) and the Good Conduct Medal for his faithful service.
Returning from war, he worked for Willow Farms Dairy, Schertz Electric Hardware, and then Caterpillar, from which he retired. In retirement, he worked as a janitor for Minier Christian Church and for the Bluegrass Creek Golf Course. He served on a number of boards, including those of the vllage of Minier, Little Galilee Christian Assembly and Minier Christian Church. He also served on the Little Mackinaw Volunteer Fire Department and as a Sunday school teacher and superintendent.
Owen was a faithful servant of Jesus Christ and a member of the Minier Christian Church; he loved his church and church family. He could be heard praying for each family member in bed at night by name, and he prayed for his church family at mealtime, as the food went from hot to medium warm.
A child could not ask for a better father and grandfather. Though greatly missed, his family is thankful for the faithful promises of Jesus, who provided his salvation as a young boy and now embraces him face-to-face.The family extends their gratitude to friends who visited and prayed with Owen; the staff and community of The Christian Villages in Lincoln who cared for him in recent months; and the staff of Safe Haven Hospice, who provided dignified comfort as he passed from life unto life.
Memorials may be made to Minier Christian Church, P.O. Box 770, Minier, IL 61759, or Little Galilee Christian Assembly, 7539 Little Galilee Road, Clinton, IL 62727-9541. The family will receive guests from 4:30 to 6:45 p.m. Thursday at Minier Christian Church, to be followed by a celebration of life, starting at 7 p.m. Rusty Richards, minister, will officiate. Haensel Funeral Home, Minier, is assisting the family with arrangements. Burial will be at Oak View Cemetery, Armington.
Condolences may be made at www.haenselfuneralhome.com.
GIBSON CITY — Michael A. Freehill, 79, of Gibson City, passed away at 1:10 a.m. Saturday (Oct. 19, 2019) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, after a brief illness, surrounded by his family.
His funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Gibson City with Father Dong Van Bui officiating. Burial with military honors will be at the Melvin Cemetery. A rosary service will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday followed by visitation until 7 p.m. at Rosenbaum Funeral Home, Gibson City. Memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 534 N. Wood St., or to Gibson Area Hospital, 1120 N. Melvin St.
Mike was born July 8, 1940, in Bloomington, a son of Claude P. and Marjorie F. Bergan Freehill. He married Joyce E. Swearingen at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Gibson City on Feb. 2, 1963; they were married for 56 years. Joyce survives in Gibson City.
Also surviving are their children, Janice (Luke) Johnson, Kirkland, Wash.; Jim (Jennifer) Freehill, Melvin; and Ken Freehill, Gibson City; three grandchildren, whom he adored are, Ben, Jessica and Amanda Freehill; three brothers, Tom (Barbara) Freehill, Saline, Mich.; Al (Jane) Freehill, Chenoa; and Dale Freehill, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; his sister, Anne (John) Zick, Hinsdale; and sisters-in-law, Doris Freehill and Gail (Lynn) Anliker, Gibson City. Many nieces and nephews survive. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter, Katherine (1989), and brother, Chuck (2015).
Mike was a farmer in the Melvin and Gibson City area all of his life. He attended St. Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Ind. Mike was an active and longtime member of St. George's Parish in Melvin, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church and was a 4th Degree Knight of The Knights of Columbus. Mike served six years in the Army National Guard, seeing active duty in the 1968 Chicago riots, and was a member of the Lee Lowery American Legion. He served 11 years (1974-1985) as treasurer for the Melvin-Sibley School Board and eight years (1985-1993) as land commissioner for the Melvin-Sibley School District.
Mike's gentle nature and warm smile will be forever remembered as will his commitment to faith, family, friends and farming.
Memories and condolences can be shared at www.rosenbaumfh.com.
SPRINGFIELD — Jeanne E. Scott, 71, of Springfield, died on Saturday (Oct. 19, 2019) at Luther Oaks in Bloomington.
She was born Aug. 17, 1948, in Springfield, the daughter of Maurice W. and Mary Jean (McEvoy) Scott.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Jeanne is survived by her brother, Richard (Madalyne) Scott; nieces Karen (Craig) Ames and Nancy (Mark) Boylan; and their children, Patrick, John and Margaret Ames and William and Katherine Boylan, all of Bloomington.
Jeanne graduated as valedictorian from Sacred Heart Academy in 1966, magna cum laude from Bradley University in 1970, and from Northwestern University School of Law in 1973.
She began her career as the first woman prosecutor to serve in the Sangamon County State's Attorney's Office. In 1979, after a brief period in private practice with the Gramlich Law firm, Jeanne was appointed an associate circuit judge for the 7th Judicial Circuit. In 1988, she was elected circuit judge for that six-county circuit. From 1992 to 1994, Jeanne served as chief judge for the circuit.
She was nominated for the federal bench by President Clinton in 1998 and she was sworn in as United States district judge for the Central District of Illinois later that year. Jeanne was the first woman to serve in each of those judicial positions. She retired in 2010.
Jeanne was a member of the Illinois State and Sangamon County Bar Associations as well as the Illinois Judges Association. She served as a faculty member for numerous judicial conferences and bar association education programs, and she was a charter member and president (1994-1995) of the Lincoln-Douglas American Inn of Court.
She also was a member of St. Agnes Church, the Altrusa Club of Springfield, and Women for Women.
She was honored with Bradley University's Outstanding Young Graduate award in 1980, and she was inducted into Bradley's Centurion Society in 1993. Jeanne was admitted to the Sacred-Heart Griffin Hall of Fame in 1998 and she served on the SHG board of directors for several years.
She also received the Sangamon County Bar Association's Legal Pioneer Award in 2010.
Jeanne was an avid sports fan who enjoyed following the St. Louis Cardinals as well as SHG, Bradley, and Northwestern teams. She loved to play golf, travel, and spend time with family and friends.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Luther Oaks and Compassus in Bloomington for the excellent care they provided to Jeanne.
Visitation: Family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. 6th St., Springfield. Visitation will begin with a prayer service at 4 p.m.
Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. Thursday at St. Agnes Catholic Church, 245 N. Amos Ave., Springfield with the Rev. Daniel Bergbower, celebrant. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Agnes Church, 245 N. Amos Ave., Springfield, IL 62702, Sacred Heart-Griffin High School, 1200 W. Washington, Springfield, IL 62702, the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, Radnor Station Building 2, Suite 320, 290 King of Prussia Road, Radnor, PA, 19087, or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Please visit www.butlerfuneralhomes.com to offer your condolences.
ADAMS, Owen "Ozzie," 98, Minier, died Sunday (Oct. 20, 2019). Haensel Funeral Home, Minier.
FREEHILL, Michael A., 79, Gibson City, died Saturday (Oct. 19, 2019). Rosenbaum Funeral Home, Gibson City.
